Birmingham has seen many of its iconic cinemas close their doors or face the wrecking ball over the years.
From grand picture palaces to cosy neighbourhood theatres, these venues once brought the magic of the silver screen to countless Brummies.
Recently, The Electric Cinema, the UK’s oldest working cinema, has also closed its doors. The historic venue, which first opened in 1909, shut down for the foreseeable future on February 29, 2024.
This closure marks the end of an era for a beloved cultural landmark that had been a staple in Birmingham’s cinematic history.
As part of the Wonderland project, Flatpack Projects is mapping Birmingham’s cinematic past and present, uncovering the stories behind these lost treasures.
We’ll look back on 13 old Birmingham cinemas, once iconic landmarks, using archives from Flatpack Projects.
Each image captures a moment in time, telling the story of the rise and fall of these cinematic landmarks.
Here are 13 photos of once-thriving cinemas in Birmingham:
5. The Bristol Cinema, 5 Bristol Road, B5 7TT
Built on the old Edgbaston Conservative Club site, The Bristol Cinema opened in 1937 with a futuristic, nautical design. It was taken over by ABC in 1944, renamed ABC Bristol Road in 1959, and hosted event screenings. In 1963, it installed Cinerama and briefly had the UK’s largest screen outside London. After splitting into three screens in 1972 and a year as a Cannon Cinema, it closed in 1987. The building was demolished and replaced by a McDonald’s drive-through. | Image Courtesy of the Cinema Museum
6. The Beaufort cinema, 2 Coleshill Road
The Beaufort, a one-of-a-kind mock Tudor mansion cinema, located at a major Ward End crossroads. Opened in 1929 with film star Jameson Thomas, it expanded in 1937, adding 500 seats by extending out the rear, but losing its Compton organ in the process. During its declining years, it retained its 30s charm, rose motif, hand-carved lions, and stained glass royalty. After its demolition in 1979, the oak staircase and stained glass found new homes in Wales and America, respectively. | Image Courtesy of John Fernee
7. ABC New Street, 93 New St, Birmingham B2 4BA
In the 1890s, this site, formerly the Masonic Hall, was among Birmingham’s pioneers in showcasing early film and moving images. It transitioned into a full-fledged cinema, the upmarket Theatre de Luxe, under Electric Theatres’ ownership. After several renamings, it emerged as the ABC New Street, gaining a reputation for unconventional content like Woody Allen and Monty Python films, until it shut down in 1983. | Courtesy of Allen Eyles
8. The Regal Cinemas, 397 Soho Road, Handsworth, B21 9SF
Birmingham’s first cinema for sound films, the Regal, opened eight months after the city’s first talkie. It was one of the largest suburban cinemas, featuring a Compton organ and its own orchestra. Its name derived from initial letters of other Handsworth cinemas. Renamed ABC Handsworth in 1959, it closed a decade later, briefly serving as an Asian cinema and a Mecca bingo. In 1978, Indira Gandhi visited amid controversy. The Regal was demolished in 1980. Currently, the Lidl supermarket in Soho Road, is located there. | Courtesy of Library of Birmingham